mikemaginn

Skiing Eye Candy For Hot Summer Days

/0 Comments/in /by

Yes, It’s An Ad, But—Wow—Some Awesome Videography.

Okay, okay, this is a video ad for CMH Heli Skiing, but it’ll do for a bit of a visual fix for these mid summer days. (BTW, we weren’t paid to show you this.)

Back in the early 70s, we wrote some captions for high-quality pictures sent into SKIING magazine by Hans Gmoser, the pioneer of heli-skiing in the Canadian Rockies.  We remember those black and white pictures were almost abstracts with spare shapes and ski trails traced on white snow fields. Heli-skiing was pretty simple then: Go to Banff, get on helicopter, go to back country, ski, repeat.

Now, the CMH Heli Skiing organization has morphed into a travel-adventure-year round, experience vacation with lodges and even, gulp, summer activities.  Well, done, Hans.

In any case, the video clip gives you a flavor of what heli skiing is all about.  And a cooling waft of air from the Canadian Rockies for these triple-H summer days.

Heli-Skiing in the Canadian Rockies: A peak skiiing experience. Credit: CMH

Heli-Skiing in the Canadian Rockies: A peak skiiing experience.
Credit: CMH

mikemaginn

GoPro: Let Me Take You To The Mountain

/0 Comments/in /by

Heli-Skiing In Chilean Andes With Breathtaking Lines.

Lynsey Dyer high fives the helo on an awesome run in the Andes.

Lynsey Dyer high fives the helo on an awesome run in the Andes.

Yes, it’s summer and the snow is gone.  Not in Chile.  As you may be aware, the resort at Portillo received nine feet of snow earlier in June.  Nine feet!

So, we decided to follow up with an awesome video from GoPro, the versatile mini video camera company that shot this production at 13,000 in the Andes back in 2013.  We follow four pro skiers on a number of exhilarating runs through snow fields in the high country.  Lynsey Dunn, Chris Davenport, John Johnson, and Travis Rice really haul down some truly challenging and dangerous territory.  Scary to us, but obviously, cup of tea to them.

Why/h0w do they do it?  As Lynsey says in the 10-minute video, “You put your time in enough, and these places that a lot of people think are so dangerous become comfortable.”

Indeed.  Fun to watch, though.  Click on any of the pics or here to watch.

Have you heli-skiied? Tell us.

Four pro skiers at the tippy top of somewhere in the Andes. Credit: GoPro

Four pro skiers at the tippy top of somewhere in the Andes.
Credit: GoPro

Woweee. Lynsey Dyer having a blast in a Chilean snowfield. Credit: GoPro

Woweee. Lynsey Dyer having a blast in a Chilean snowfield.
Credit: GoPro

Jon Weisberg

Ski Portillo Gets 9 Feet!!!!!

/2 Comments/in /by

Road to Resort Blocked.

Before and After satellite images of Portillo region in Chile captures the magnitude of the storm

Before and After satellite images of Portillo region in Chile captures the magnitude of the storm

Winter shifted hemispheres quickly this week and delivered a 9-foot monster dump of snow on Ski Portillio. Resort operators there are ecstatic with the early season delivery.

Dramatic satellite images show the day-before/day-after difference in coverage.

If any readers are on their way or have plans to go this season, take some pictures and send a report.

This is the mountain road to Portillo. Switchbacks are completely inundated.

This is the mountain road to Portillo. Switchbacks are completely inundated.

seniorsskiing

Skiing In Oz: The Season Is Just Beginning

/1 Comment/in , /by

Here’s A Snapshot Of Skiing Down Under.

Popular Mount Hotham's summit is at 6,100 feet (1,862 metres) Credit: Kman Tran

Popular Mount Hotham’s summit is at 6,100 feet (1,862 metres)
Credit: Kman Tran

[Editor Note:  This was written by Melbourne, Australia-based Marg Malkin, a retired ski industry veteran who spends February and March at SilverStar, BC.  She is SeniorsSkiing.com’s first Australian contributor.  We hope to see more news from her.]

Australian seniors only have a very small window to enjoy skiing in Australia given the ski season is a short 14 weeks from the first weekend in June through to the end of September. Historically, the season is a bit “scratchy” when it begins and then the snow comes with a blustery vengeance, often covering the slopes with almost a metre of snow. Given the elevations of ski resorts vary between 1300 and 2000 metres in altitude, a two metre snow-depth season is a good one.

Ozzie ski resorts are clustered in the southeastern states: Victoria and New South Wales Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Ozzie ski resorts are clustered in the southeastern states: Victoria and New South Wales
Credit: Wikipedia Commons

The major ski resorts—Thredbo, Perisher, Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller—are all located in the high country of New South Wales and Victoria, the South Eastern states of Australia. The resorts also serve as summer hiking, mountain bike riding, and bush walking destinations. Only one resort, Mount Buller is an easy day-tripper resort, two-plus hours access from Melbourne.

The other Victorian resorts are three and a half hours away, so therefore overnight destinations. New South Wales ski resorts are a five-hour drive from Sydney, however they are easily accessible from the Australian capital city of Canberra.

Unlike the New Zealand resorts, all these Aussie resorts are accessed by car or bus right into the main resort areas within easy distance from the accommodations.

View from Mount Hotham summit. Credit: Kham Tran

View from Mount Hotham summit.
Credit: Kham Tran

The resorts began with small private lodges (or cabins) built by a few die hard skiers walking in with skins. More private lodges developed in the 50’s and 60’s, and, in the 70’s, commercial investors began developing private condo complexes and licensed taverns, most of which thrive today. Generally most of our “baby boomer” sector began as members of private lodges, these lodges becoming open to the public in the 80’s to cover infrastructural costs.

Majority of the ski fields are surrounded by National Parks, and there is a fair amount of government infrastructural control throughout the ski fields. The Australian ski lift companies make skiing very attractive to our generation, providing over 65-year-olds with 50% discount of lift passes. And if you are inclined to keep skiing after 70, then your ski lift pass is free! However there is a government entry fee per car for the ski season to access the Victorian resorts.

For current ski conditions in Australia, click here.  Looks like the “scratchy” start of the season is here.

For more information about skiing in Australia, click here.

Sunrise on Mount Jagungal. Credit: Jerry Nockles

Sunrise on Mount Jagungal in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW.
Credit: Jerry Nockles

 

mikemaginn

Indoor Skiing Tries Again: Toronto Next

/0 Comments/in , /by

Experts And Beginners Can Ski All Year On Faux Snow.

Many years ago, we remember when the town of Etobicoke, ONT, a suburb of Toronto, used its municipal trash collection to build a ski hill. That’s a clue to how geographically feature-less the terrain around Toronto is.  While the greater Toronto area has at least 10 ski areas in driving range of the city and reasonable ski ticket prices, the dimensions are modest.

Shredding is possible on "dryslope" faux snow.

Shredding is possible on
“dryslope” faux snow.

Into this mileau comes a bold idea: Indoor Skiing.  We’ve seen how indoor skiing has been tried in other parts of the world, most notably at Tokyo’s Lalaporte Skidome SSWAS.   There’s also one in the Middle East called Ski Dubai which features real snow and penguins.

Now, a company is building a 20,000 square foot indoor facility in Vaughan, ONT, just north of Toronto.  Axis Freestyle Academy is billed as “Canada’s Indoor Ski and Snowboard Progression Park”, a year-round dry snow, aka, dryslope, training facility.  There is also a 4,000 square-foot trampoline area for fitness and fun.  The ski hill is divided between open slope for beginners and terrain filled with rails and jumps for experts or wannabes.

SkiDubai's indoor ski area has real snow, interesting features, and cold temps.

SkiDubai’s indoor ski area has real snow, interesting features, and cold temps.

In any case, Torontonians—especially young ones—will have another option to practice and prepare for winter.  On second thought, we’re curious if some folks find the faux snow appealing enough to stick with the indoor facility all year round.  Oh, no lifts, by the way.  It’s a walk-up; that won’t be too bad because the elevation is 17 feet.

The facility is scheduled for opening in June 2016.

Here’s an artsy two-minute view of what snowboarding can be like on a “dryslope”.

 

 

seniorsskiing

SeniorsSkiing Guide: SilverStar—BC’s Uncrowded And “Happy” Ski Resort

/0 Comments/in , /by

Great Skiing And Social Life Makes SilverStar A Lively Scene For Seniors.

SilverStar Village is a mid-mountain, self-contained resort in itself with restaurants, shops and lodging. Credit: SilverStar

SilverStar Village is a mid-mountain, self-contained resort in itself with restaurants, shops and lodging.
Credit: SilverStar

[Editor Note:  This review was written by Melbourne, Australia-based Marg Malkin, a retired ski industry veteran who spends February and March at SilverStar.  She’s also the informal SilverStar liaison with a group of Ozzie skiers who travel to BC every winter. SeniorsSkiing.com welcomes her as our first Australian contributor.  We hope to see more news from her.]

SilverStar Mountain Resort is a hidden gem, tucked up the northern end of the Okanagan Valley, B.C.  I found this wonderful place 12 years ago and keep coming back to enjoy its magical village, breathtaking views, awesome terrain and uncrowded highways of ever reliable snow.

SilverStar is the third largest ski resort in BC with 131 runs, a 2500-foot vertical and, on average, 23 feet annually of champagne powder.  Twelve lifts service over 3500 acres of skiing as well as 60 miles of Nordic trails, heli-skiing opportunities, and night skiing on Friday and Saturday, too.

Themed after an early 1900’s mining town, the mid-mountain village Main Street with its bakeries, restaurants and shops has real old world charm.

First impression on arrival in the Main Street of this mid-mountain village is that everyone is smiling.  And little wonder; the joy and freedom of wide open, uncrowded slopes makes it a dream come true haven for safe, fast top-to-bottom skiing. It’s where you find long-time residents and local characters who give SilverStar its safe, “homey”, community feel.  Just ask and you’ll find these locals willing to share their secrets that have kept them calling SilverStar home for so long. Tour the mountain with them, and you’ll find they are only too willing to share their knowledge of the best stashes and little known areas of the terrain.

That’s what makes SilverStar so special—a big mountain, a small town feel, with all the terrain you’d expect at a larger resort, without the crowds.

It’s why I keep coming back. The fabulous snow, the welcome by locals and to meet like-minded older skiers to socialize and ski with from all over the globe. I’m in my late 60’s, enjoy excellent health and thanks to my many times at Silver Star have a large network of skier friends with whom I spend six to eight weeks with each Feb and March.  Many of these friends I have “gathered” during my times in the resort, where friendships are easily established because of its small and friendly village community. Hence, I have a real “collection” of like-minded skiers who make the most of their good health and freedom away from the everyday family obligations of home. I’d just like people—particularly single travelers and couples—to know there’s fun to be had at a ski resort without spending too much and having a great social circle.

Hawaiian party in BC? Sure. Social activities are frequent and fun at SilverStar. Credit: Marg Malkin

Hawaiian party in BC? Sure. Social activities are frequent and fun at SilverStar.
Credit: Marg Malkin

We have such a great time.  There’s always someone to ski with or have a coffee or drink with. There’s a variety of ski skills, some diehards who hit the slopes at 8:15 and ski until 2:30 every day of their time there! Others ski out at 10-ish through until 2-ish depending.

We’ve developed “progressive drinks night” social life where people take a turn at hosting a drinks night at their unit—everyone comes with a bottle and a plate to share, making for fun and hilarity.  We also get to enjoy the many restaurants; Paradise Camp Dinner Tours in a Snow Cat, Horseman’s Cabin Snowshoe Dinner Tour are only a couple of night experiences. Tubing, ice skating and snow shoeing are wonderful apres activities, all included in the ski lift pass at Silver Star.  And there’s fat tube biking! Also ten pin bowling! The list goes on.

Getting There:  Fly into Kelowna International Airport, serviced by several US and Canadian air carriers.  Then shuttle north about an hour to SilverStar.

For SilverStar trail maps, click here.

Bottom Line:  Most visitors will take advantage of  a variety of lodging and ski pass packages.  To give you an idea of the value, though, a SilverStar M1Pass, good for three days of free skiing at each of 13 alliance partner ski areas, and which includes Nordic, family discounts, discounts at Whistler Blackcomb and lots of other savings opportunities is only $899 plus tax (2015-16) for seniors 65-plus. An Early Bird Senior Pass will be available after June 1 for $459 plus tax.  That’s a season pass!

SilverStar has four mountain faces for skiing. Uncrowded, friendly, big snow. Credit: SilverStar

SilverStar has four mountain faces for skiing. Uncrowded, friendly, big snow. Plus lots of other snow sports!
Credit: SilverStar

mikemaginn

Candide Thovex Hops Down The Alps

/0 Comments/in , /by

Folly Or Finesse?

Professional athlete Candide Thovex makes gravity work. Click below for video

Professional athlete Candide Thovex makes gravity work. Click below for video.

Hold my beer while a take a run, will ya?  Actually, it’s Candide Thovex, professional athlete, making a spectacular run off-piste somewhere in the Alps.  Some might say this kind of extreme skiing is irresponsible; others might say there is skill here to be admired.  Whatever your stance on this kind of dramatic skiing activity, you have to say this 30-second video clip gives you an emotional hit. Did we mention the two avalanches?

How say you? Folly? Finesse?  Other?  Let us know.

By the way, SeniorsSkiing.com has another video clip of Candide Thovex here, doing his thing at the Val Blanc.

Jon Weisberg

“Waste” Deep Skiing Due Soon In Copenhagen

/1 Comment/in , /by

Incinerator With Skiable Roof to Open in 2017.

Skiable incinerator being built near Copenhagen

Skiable incinerator being built near Copenhagen. Credit: BIG Architects

For reasons I can’t fully explain, Denmark ranks at the top of the 2016 edition of the United Nations “World Happiness Report.” I’ve been to Copenhagen a few times and enjoyed the people and the food. Skiers there have painfully few options: a few tiny runs and an indoor facility.

Skiing off the roof, there will be a beautiful view of downtown Copenhagen. Credit: BIG Architects

Skiing off the roof, there will be a beautiful view of downtown Copenhagen.
Credit: BIG Architects

That’s about to change with the addition of a massive waste-to-energy incinerator under construction near Copenhagen. Designed by innovative architectural firm BIG in New York, the building has 41,000 square meters of roof which will have trees, hiking trails and a ski slope with synthetic snow. It is scheduled for completion in 2017.

BIG is headed by Bjarke Ingels, whose work includes 2 World Trade Center in Manhattan, the recently announced stadium for the Washington Redskins, and many other eye-popping projects around the globe.

In addition to its skiing feature, the incinerator will remind those in the neighborhood about their disposable consumables by sending a single smoke ring skyward every time a ton of carbon dioxide is produced.

See how the project works in the video below.

seniorsskiing

From The Tippy Top Of The Matterhorn

/0 Comments/in /by

When You Run Out Of Challenges, There’s Always The Matterhorn.

Nicolas Falquet, a 37 year old athlete from Switzerland, starts his run from the top of the world’s most impressive mountain.  He has a GoPro camera attached to a wand device from the top of his helmet.  Bet there was no line for the lift. Thanks to Milkyway Scientists and GoPro for this one.

Nick

The Matterhorn is 14, 692 feet high.  And it certainly looks like it has a very pointy top.  That’s where Nicolas filmed this clip. Hold on, folks, it’s a long way down. Yikes!

 

seniorsskiing

Way, Way Out West, There’s Another Jackson Hole. Know Where?

/0 Comments/in /by
Home, home on the range? Not really. This Jackson Hole is not where you think.

Home, home on the range? Not really. This Jackson Hole is not where you think.

A few miles north of Beijing, there’s a town that is named Jackson Hole.  No skiing, but…seriously?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRSenQu2GWw&feature=youtu.be

Paolo Gaudiano

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Italy’s Dolomiti Superski

/3 Comments/in , , /by

­Winter wonderland in one of the largest ski areas in the world.

Although I was born and raised in Italy, I did not do much skiing until I moved to Colorado for college. So I jumped at the occasion to join some old friends for a week of skiing in the Dolomites—a portion of the Italian Alps characterized by their stunning rocky outcrops, sufficiently beautiful to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A view of Sella Massif from the south. Credit: Paola Gaudiano

A view of Sella Massif from the south.
Credit: Paolo Gaudiano


Dolomiti Superski is a resort encompassing some 12 connected ski areas totaling 1,200 Km (750 miles) of trails served by 460 lifts. While a few of the areas require a bus for the connection, you can literally ski all day without ever doing the same trail twice, while experiencing a wide variety of terrains and stunning views.

Terrain

The area is accessible to all levels, but in general is aimed toward families, and as such there is a preponderance of easy and medium slopes. I was pleasantly surprised by the large number of older skiers—for once, I did not feel like a rarity because of my gray hair.

As with most European areas, the vast majority of the terrain is groomed, and if you like moguls or off-piste this place is not ideal. On the flip side, when the snow is abundant (which this year it was not), if you find places to go off-trail safely, you will likely find lots of untouched powder even a few days after the last snow.

The main attraction of this area is Sella Ronda, a 40 Km loop around the Sella massif, spanning four valleys and offering a variety of stunning views. The loop is great for intermediate skiers, and it’s possible to head off for side detours for more advanced skiing.

Marmolada and its glaciers. Credit: Paolo Gaudiano

Marmolada and its glaciers.
Credit: Paolo Gaudiano

Getting there

I flew into Munich, which gave me the best combination of price and relative convenience. Depending on which town you choose, it is somewhere between three and four hours from Munich, about two-three hours from Innsbruck, two-three hours from Verona and three-four hours from Milan. You can also take a train and bus combination if you want to avoid driving, but travel times will be longer.

Lodging

The entire area is dotted with small towns and hundreds of hotels. Most of them offer mezza pensione, which includes breakfast and dinner. Our group was based at Hotel Alpi, a three-star hotel in Campitello Di Fassa that cost €85/night for a single, or €130/night for two. The food, service and amenities were excellent. There are many stores nearby and a Ski Bus that connects all the towns, making it really easy to get around.

Food and Culture

As with most of Italy, part of the experience is the food. One of my favorite things about skiing in Italy is that there are lots of restaurants on the slopes that serve great food and are relatively inexpensive. On the downside, most of these places do not allow bringing and eating your own food. I brought sandwiches every day, and sometimes I just had to find a bench somewhere to eat.

Bottom Line

Skiing in Italy is much cheaper than most of the US. I paid €240 for a 5-day pass giving access to all the areas. Coupled with the inexpensive food and lodging, you’ll pay the same if not less than flying to Utah from the East coast.

Discounts are offered for skiers over 65 (roughly 10 percent off).

Trail Map Click Here

A view from Paolo's hotel room, showing the dolomite rock the region is named for. Credit: Paolo Gaudiano

A view from Paolo’s hotel room, showing the dolomite rock the region is named for.
Credit: Paolo Gaudiano

Jon Weisberg

Ski At Home: Faux Mountain Condos In The City

/0 Comments/in , /by

Vail, Are You Paying Attention?

Design by Shokhan Mataibekov Architects is a finalist in World Architect Festival Awards.

Design by Shokhan Mataibekov Architects is a finalist in World Architect Festival Awards.

That's what Borat says.

That’s what Borat says.

Remember Borat, the hilarious Kazakhstanian character created by British comic, Sasha Baron Cohen? His spoof helped define Kazakhstan in a way that has it trying to get respect ever since.

The country has five ski resorts, at least one reaching higher than 10,000-feet. Now a proposed apartment building for Astana, the nation’s capital, would add another skiing option. Slalom House is designed as a 21 story building with a 1000-foot slope wrapping the exterior. It would be the world’s first residential building with a built-in ski slope.

If built, it would not lack for decent snow-making conditions. Astana, the second coldest capital city in the world, has winter temperatures reaching as low as -31°F. Summer temps climb as high as 95°F.

Here’s a virtual video tour.  We suggest turning off your sound to avoid Borat-like soundtrack.

 

Jon Weisberg

Skiing On Pluto?: Never Say Never

/0 Comments/in /by

Perhaps One Of These Days.

Pluto: Just a rocket ship ride away. Credit: NASA

Pluto: Just a rocket ship ride away.
Credit: NASA

NASA spaceship New Horizon’s zoomed past Pluto in June. It’s the closest we’ve gotten to the dwarf planet. At 3,670,050,000 miles, Pluto is almost 40 times the distance from the Sun as Earth. This spectacular image shows a range of 11,000′ icy mountains. We don’t know if they might require very sharp edges to maneuver, but astronomers report that gravity on Pluto is about 1/12th that on of Earth. In skier terms, that means the slightest effort to jump a mogul and a very long distance before landing. If you were to figure out a way to get to our very distant neighbor, be sure to wear an extra base layer. Pluto’s surface is among the coldest in the solar system: about -375 degrees F (-225 degrees C). Be sure to pack a big lunch and don’t forget the oxygen.

 

mikemaginn

Ted Ligety Flying Down Ohau In En-Zed

/0 Comments/in /by

Here’s A Dose of Inspiration For The Coming Season.

This summer, the US Ski Team worked out in New Zealand where the skiing was great and the views were magnificent.  Here’s a short video of Ted making his famous elbow turns down Ohau, one of the mountains the visited.  If you’ve never been to New Zealand, consider it as a definite bucket list destination, summer or winter.  For outdoor-minded people, it is paradise.

mikemaginn

Mont Blanc Panorama Leaves You Breathless

/3 Comments/in /by

Highest Mountain in Europe in 360 High-Res Photography

We discovered a post from In2White, a team of extraordinary high-tech Alpine photographers that is definitely worth a diversionary look.  Featured is the fabled Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, captured in the highest resolution panorama ever made. Photographed by Filippo Blengini, this high-altitude, giga-pixel shot lets you macro-zoom into a number of selected peaks almost to the point you  can spot the butterflies fluttering around the crags.  If you look closely, you can see ski tracks throughout the area.

Mont Blanc and surrounds in crystal clear air. Click to access panorama. Credit: Filippo Blengini/In2White

Mont Blanc and surrounds in crystal clear air. Click to access panorama.
Credit: Filippo Blengini/In2White

mikemaginn

Force Majeure: Skiing Is Back In The Cinema

/2 Comments/in /by

SeniorsSkiing’s First Movie Review A “Runaway” Hit From The Alps

We remember the New Wave of French cinema in the late-50s to mid-70s when going to a “Foreign Film” was an intellectual exercise. That’s when you and your date went to those black and white, sub-titled classics, The Four Hundred Blows, Shoot the Piano Player, Breathless or Jules and Jim, and afterward settled into a discussion about what it all meant. To jog your memory, check out this scene from Annie Hall, where Woody Allen squelches an academic babbler by dragging none other than media theorist Marshall McCluhan into the scene to settle an argument. We were all into interpretation, the more philosophically zealous the better.

Which brings to mind the 2014 movie Force Majeure, from the Swedish director Ruben Ostland. We were attracted to it because it takes place in a French ski resort in the Alps. Since the last film we remember that had skiing as a central element of the plot was Downhill Racer (1969), we thought we’d take it in. It certainly brought back the old-days of trying to “figure out” the message.

A vacationing Swedish family of four enjoys lunch on the deck of a mid-mountain lodge when an avalanche envelops the scene. It’s actually an

An avalanche triggers a family crisis. Credit: Ruben Ostland

An avalanche triggers a family crisis.
Credit: Ruben Ostland

astonishing sight as the assembled lunch crowd first marvels, then gasps, and finally panics at the approaching cloud of snow. What happens then propels the plot: The father of the family runs away, leaving his wife and two children behind to fend for themselves. The avalanche evaporates into a mist, the father returns, but the wife and mother is left with doubt. That uncertainty grows in several uncomfortable scenes including long, slow takes without dialogue, semi-humorous encounters with other couples at the resort and a foggy ski run that ultimately leads to the climax of the movie and its equally foggy denouement.

While the plot may drive some reflective conversations with your date, we loved our new insights into European-style skiing, the silent actor that we feel stole the show. The movie was filmed at Les Arcs in Savoie, France, which is a cluster of different resorts near Mont Blanc.

Open-piste skiing is a featured character in Force Majeure Credit: LesArcsNet

Open-piste skiing is a featured character in Force Majeure
Credit: LesArcsNet/SMA

We got a sense of what it is like to spend a week in the alps, open-piste skiing between different resort areas, taking tele-cabine gondolas from place to place and living in a tres chic, modern hotel with luxury dining and service. Les Arcs has a series of large, apartment-block-like hotels located at different altitudes, all connected by a web of lifts. When two characters in the movie head off-piste for some adventure skiing, the solitude and the scenery are exquisite.

Aside from a few thrilling mountain chases in James Bond films, we’ve not noticed ski resorts, skiing or ski racing in any recent movies. So, thanks to Force Majeure and director/writer Ruben Ostland, perhaps another auteur de cinema can realize the dramatic opportunities in alpine vistas.  Force Majeure is currently available on Netflix.

https://youtu.be/3nTJIc_e6Ns

More Ice Canoe Racing On The St. Lawrence

/0 Comments/in /by

Looking Back At A Cool, Cold Sport In Quebec.

In February, we traveled to Quebec to visit the Winter Carnavale and the legendary ski resorts on the St. Lawrence, Mount Saint Anne and Le Massif de Charlevoix.  The city was alive with thousands of people celebrating the brilliant cold and the many events of the Carnavale.  One of these was the most extraordinary athletic event we’ve ever witnessed:  The Ice Canoe Race on the St. Lawrence River.  As we watched from the shore, about a dozen or more crews hustled and pushed specially built canoes over and around ice floes.  Triangular course went from one side of the river to the other; the “professional teams” had to make two complete circuits.  Click here for a clip from our eyewitness account.

Now we have more expansive coverage, thanks to our good friends at QuebecRegion.  Have a look; it is clearly an impressive experience for participants and observers alike.  Recall this video when you are complaining about the heat and humidity of next August.

For more information on the Quebec Region’s many attractions for active seniors, please click here.

https://vimeo.com/121045965

If You Like Mountains…

/0 Comments/in , /by

Take An Aerial Tour Of The Himalayas.

Teton Gravity Research, one of our favorite action sports movie makers, has captured the spirit of the mighty giants of the Himalayas.  Using an advanced camera stablizer, this short, ultra HD video takes you up close and personal to Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse.  Fasten your seat belt and pass the pop-corn.

Susan Winthrop

Ski Japan: Looking For Snow? Head West. All The Way.

/5 Comments/in , /by

Combine lots of snow with an exotic destination for an incredible skiing experience.

Almost like a Japanese woodcut, skiers in Niseko run through the flakes. Credit: Susie Winthrop

Almost like a Japanese woodcut, skiers in Niseko run through the flakes.
Credit: Susie Winthrop

O.K., you adventurous senior powder-hounds: How far will you fly to find an awesome stash in this odd winter of snow conditions?  If you don’t fly east to New England or Quebec to ski, how about 14 hours on a JAL flight to Tokyo on a 787 “Dreamliner” direct from Boston?  When you get there, hop on another two-hour flight to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, the northern most island in Japan. Then,  jump on a bus and three hours later you’re in Niseko, home to four (Annupuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu, and Hanazono) interconnected ski areas.  If it’s winter, it will be snowing.  Yes, guaranteed fresh light powder snow everyday all winter.  The aspen trees are perfectly spaced and slopes are rarely skied out, but guides, helicopters and snowcats also await those coveting untracked bliss.

However, the real adventure here is the fact that you’re in Japan. You’ll eat sushi, sashimi, tempura, gyoza, yakitori, miso soup and sea urchins. Be sure to stay

Moku No Sho ryokan has an onsen (hot water spring) on site. Credit: Susie Winthrop

Moku No Sho ryokan has an onsen (hot water spring) on site.
Credit: Susie Winthrop

at a real Japanese Inn (Ryokan) with hot spring fueled baths (Onsens).  You won’t need to bring a bathing suit to the springs; you bathe in the buff.  Niseko Moku No Sho, the fabulous inn we stayed at, provided a yukata (kimono bathrobe) and slippers which we wore at all time until we dressed for skiing.  You don’t even need to bring your own ski garb; you can rent it  at the mountain: parkas, pants, hats, mittens, goggles, helmets, snowboards, skis, boots, poles—all the latest, all for rent.

Like most things in Japan, the resort is clean, organized and efficient.  At the mountain, it took no time to pop grand-daughter, Eloise, in day care, purchase our senior three-day ticket (a real deal at $105 for three days on four mountains), rent our super-wide powder skis and get out on the slopes.  There are no lift lines, even during vacation week.

Tower of beer. What a novel idea. Credit: Susie Winthrop

Tower of beer. What a novel idea.
Credit: Susie Winthrop

Looking for apres-ski fun? Make some friends and order a high “tower” of beer to share at the base lodge.  Or slide down to the Bar Ice igloo and warm yourself with a hot rum and butterscotch toddy.  “Kampai” is all the Japanese you’ll need to know.

For more information on skiing in Japan, click here.

mikemaginn

Le Massif de Charlevoix: Views, Trails, and Chic

/0 Comments/in , /by

Where else can you ski into a major river (almost) and take a ski train to a charming village?

About an hour north of Quebec City, we find Le Massif de Charlevoix, a magnificent and major North American ski area that offers several exceptional features:

Skiing into the river? Looks that way at Le Massif de Charlevoix Credit: SkiZone

Skiing into the river? Looks that way at Le Massif de Charlevoix
Credit: SkiZone

  • Most people arrive and park at the top of the mountain, making their first run down without an inaugural lift up.
  • Runs are varied and long from very pleasant groomers (which we like best) to mogul fields, glades and double diamonds. There is even an off-trail sector of 99 acres for back-country adventurers. Le Massif de Charlevoix has the highest vertical drop (2,526 ft.) in Eastern Canada and east of the Rockies, so trails basically keep going and going. (The longest one is 3.2 miles.) But stopping to take in the view is worth it because…
  • …A couple of hundred yards from the bottom is the St. Lawrence River. The impression you get as you head down the piste is that you are heading straight into the water. It’s an illusion that is quite captivating and photogenic.
  • Not only does Le Massif de Charlevoix host a piste de luge—sled run—that is 7.5 km long, it also has the only TRIPLE black diamond trail we’ve ever seen. It’s called La Charlevoix, it’s “extremely steep”, and it’s designed as a downhill course for FIS approved races. We looked at it respectfully from afar.

 

  • Light rail train stops at Hotel le Ferme in Baie-Ste-Paul Credit: PhotoGT

    Light rail train stops at Hotel le Ferme in Baie-Ste-Paul
    Credit: PhotoGT

    You take your last run down, and, at the very bottom of the piste, you and your skis, gear and boots can take a transit gondola to a light rail station where a train will take you about 30 minutes along the shore of the St. Lawrence to the little town of Baie-Saint-Paul, the hometown of the world famous Cirque du Soleil. The beer on the little train was most welcome, served by une serveuse très charmant. Again, the views of the river were breathtaking; we were glued to the window until we arrived at…

  • …Hotel La Ferme in Baie-Saint-Paul, a new, very chic, stylish, design-winning hotel built as the first phase of a multi-phase project that will “responsibly” develop the area. With the hotel in town as a four-season destination for visitors, plans are also in process to develop ski-in, ski-out condos at the base of the Le Massif de Charlevoix within five years.
  • The quaint and historic village of Baie-Saint-Paul is an artist colony with galleries, shops and chef-owner gourmet restaurants that capitalize on fresh, local agriculture. Our discovery was Au P’tit Resto Suisse where the fondu and raclette brought us to a magical place.

    Au Ptit Resto Suisse serves gourmet racelette. Credit: Tourisme-Charlevoix

    Au Ptit Resto Suisse serves gourmet racelette.
    Credit: Tourisme-Charlevoix

So, senior snow enthusiasts, we’ve discovered something new for us in the north. The Charlevoix region is not only a winter destination for skiers, cross-country, snow-shoers and back-country explorers, but from what we’ve seen, there are many outdoor adventures for other times. A short drive from the northeast or the mid-west, this is an experience waiting to happen.

For more information on the development at Le Massif visit LeMassifVision2020.com

mikemaginn

Au Quebec Pays des Merveilles d’Hiver

/3 Comments/in /by

Au Quebec Pays des Merveilles d’Hiver

Messieurs et Mesdammes, nous aimons le Quebec en hiver! With apologies to Madame Haydu, my high school French teacher, our recent journée au Quebec was trés intéressant, and nous were heureuse to tell you toût de l’historie.

Eçoutez, Senior Skiers, if you are looking for a winter vacation in snow country that is different, even exotic, consider heading north to Quebec. There you will find some incredibly beautiful multi-snow sport resorts, world-class hotels and scenery that is honestly like nothing you’ve ever seen before. All so close, all so exotique. But before we tell you about our skiing adventures, we want to report on Quebec’s winter jewel: le Carnavale de Quebec.

Mascot Bonhomme makes us feel welcome at his Palais. Credit: Tourisme Quebec

Mascot Bonhomme makes us feel welcome at his Palais.
Credit: Tourisme Quebec

If you are reading this, you are most likely a friend of winter. Let us tell you straight up that les Quebecois are amants (lovers) of winter. Frankly, when you live up there, you have to be. Visiting Quebec City during Carnavale is a lesson in celebrating a glorious winter culture built on welcoming the magnificent cold and all it brings.

We met Bonhomme, the puffy white snowman mascot of Carnavale, at an evening parade which featured dramatically lit creatures of the North—narwhales and wolves—floats with scenes of Quebec history, musicians, clowns, acrobats, motorcycles, all in the brilliant cold air. It seemed the entire city lined the parade route with rosy-cheeked children riding on parents’ shoulders, many enthusiastic bleatings of plastic horns, and a warm feeling of camaraderie.

Musicians' hut at le Monde de Bonhomme at Quebec's Winter Carnavale. Credit: SeniorsSkiing

Musicians’ hut at le Monde de Bonhomme at Quebec’s Winter Carnavale.
Credit: SeniorsSkiing

Downtown, we also visited la Palais de Bonhomme, a really large, ornate, multi-room structure built of crystal clear blocks of ice, with themed rooms and ice furniture. We walked over to the Plains of Abraham where we found an extraordinary outdoor exhibition of snow slides, kid’s activities, sleigh rides, ice sculptures, musicians in heated booths, and squeaky snow underfoot.

The pièce de résistance, though, was the canoe racing on the St. Lawrence River, choked as you would imagine this time of year with jagged ice floes and big bergy bits, and with the occasional stretch of open water. Teams of fiveIceboat hardy athletes dressed in wet suits and spiked shoes push, pull, heave, lift and row bateaux about 20-25 feet long through, around and over all this. The idea was to head around three buoys, two placed on the Quebec side of the river and the third on the far side, at least two miles across. Amateur teams went around the buoys once; the pros had to make the circuit twice. Now that’s an extreme sport.

Quebec is an easy car ride from anywhere in the Northeast and even from the Midwest; major airlines fly into Jean Lesage International. It’s probably the most European city in North America. Restaurants and cafes line le Vieux Quebec, and there are many art boutiques and craft shops though out the city. Just being in Quebec in winter is exhilarating; the locals know how to live in winter, and they start by loving it.

Coming next: Skiing the Charlevoix Region.

mikemaginn

Quebec Winter Carnival: Canoe Racing On The Frozen St. Lawrence

/0 Comments/in , /by

A New Extreme Sport Emerges For Those Who Really Love The Cold

Hearty, are we?  Well, these lads surely are.  These garcons are one of a dozen or so teams, some of them professionals, who are canoe racing on the St. Lawrence during Quebec’s Winter Carnival.  The amateurs included a women’s team, mixed men and women teams and a few folks who just wanted to have some fun.  You might wonder why this is a good idea for a sport.  Don’t bother.  It’s about The Extreme.  And learning to love the magnificent cold.  This was taken on Feb 8, 2015 when the temps were -20 C and the wind was blowing at least 25 knots.  What’s the wind chill? Anyone?  Anyone?

Quebec’s Winter Carnavale was the site of the North American Snowsports Journalist Association Annual Meeting.  More to come on Ice Hotels, ski trains and memorable “versants” (ski areas) just outside Quebec.

Is This Guy For Real? Amazing Candide Thovex In The Alps

/1 Comment/in , /by

Daredevil is becoming an -ism.  Here’s yet another impossible run.

We wonder if videos like this help recruit people to skiing or turn them off.  It sure looks, um, well, risky.  What do you think? Professional skiers Candide Thovex totally shreds Val Blanc.

GoPro Flipping Out On Mt. Cook

/0 Comments/in , /by

Free-skier Tom Wallisch corks it on New Zealand’s Tallest Mountain

Some say skiing is flying with different expectations.  Take a look at this short video from GoPro with professional free-skier Tom Wallisch down in En-Zed.  Aside from the corkscrew flip, the view of these snow fields is breathtaking.   By the way, winter in New Zealand is summer in the Northern Hemisphere.  And the South Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth. So, if you want a unique July Fourth party, off you go.

Powder Skiing Fantasy in Swiss Alps

/0 Comments/in /by

 GoPro Channel hosts unbelievable footage from little camera.

Can you see how Nate Wallace is doing this?  He’s holding a little GoPro camera on the end of an aluminum pole.  The effect shows that this kind of powder skiing is nothing short of exhilarating.  If you’ve never tried deep powder, this is what it’s like.  Click here to be transported.

Truly like a dream.

Excellent Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro

Excellent
Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro

Exhilarating. Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro

Exhilarating.
Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro

Incredible. Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro

Incredible.
Credit: Nate Wallace/GoPro